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Jameis Winston wants to be 'viewed like a Peyton Manning'

As a guest instructor at the prestigious Manning Passing Academy, Jameis Winston got a chance to watch how the first family of quarterbacking — Peyton, Eli and Archie — conducts itself on and off the field.

Since Thursday, Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston has been in Thibodaux, La., working as a guest instructor at the 19th annual Manning Passing Academy.

The All-American was one of 41 college players selected to work the prestigious camp, which hosted 1,200 prep players from around the country. Not only did he get to help coach the younger QBs in attendance, but Winston got to watch how the first family of quarterbacking — Peyton, Eli and Archie — conducts itself on and off the field.

"I'm an observer," Winston told reporters on Friday. "So I just observe the way (Peyton) does things. He's so detail-oriented. And how he carries himself, I'm really trying to see how he carries himself because I want to be the guy 10, 15 years from now that's viewed like a Peyton Manning or an Eli or an Archie."

While he's already got two things that eluded the Mannings during their respective careers — a national championship and a Heisman Trophy — Winston's long-term football goal isn't to just to shine in college. It's to get to the NFL and star there as well.

But whether Winston leaves after his sophomore year or stays like Peyton and Eli did, FSU head coach Jimbo Fisher thinks this week has been a terrific experience for his star pupil.

"I think you learn any time you're around greatness," Fisher said. "You pick up so many little things, subtle things that other people may not even recognize. Any time you have that opportunity you've got to take advantage of it.

"Any time you're around people of that stature, it's incredibly important to be able to learn from them. Whether you take things or not is up to you, but I think learning how things are done and to continue to grow your knowledge of the position you have and the responsibilities you have."

PHOTOS: JAMEIS WINSTON THE NEXT BO JACKSON?

Florida State's Jameis Winston is the first Heisman winner to play college baseball after winning the award since Bo Jackson in 1986. The Seminoles quarterback got a chance to play against the New York Yankees today in an exhibition game. Kim Klemen, USA TODAY Sports

At 19, he became the youngest player to ever win the Heisman. And he finished his debut season with 4,057 yards passing, 40 touchdowns and a last-minute, game-winning drive to clinch the national championship.

It's hard to think of another quarterback who was so advanced at such a young age. Including the famed Mannings. And that all goes back, Fisher said, to Winston's prodigious football intellect.

"The best thing he has, of everything, is his intelligence and knowledge of the game," Fisher said. "Because he understands it. When we have a conversation, I can say something to him and he sees the whole picture in his mind just like I do. What the angles are, what they should be. He sees it.

"He just gets it."

Just like the first family of quarterbacking he's been working with this week in Louisiana.

"Exactly right," Fisher said. "The great ones — they can visualize it. They can process it and make that quick decision. And it can be a split-second decision. That's the difference. And (Winston) has that ability."